CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 2018: AGNOSTIC FRONT - "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 2018:

AGNOSTIC FRONT - "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" (1999)
(Running time: 28:59 minutes; 17 songs)
("Epitaph Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "POLICE STATE"
(02.) "I HAD ENOUGH"
(03.) "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART"
(04.) "SIT AND WATCH"
(05.) "BLOOD, DEATH AND TAXES"
(06.) "FRUSTRATION"
(07.) "SICKNESS"
(08.) "SHADOWS"
(09.) "NOWHERE TO GO"
(10.) "TRUST"
(11.) "MY LIFE"
(12.) "IT'S TIME"
(13.) "ROCK STAR"
(14.) "NOTHING'S FREE"
(15.) "PRICE YOU PAY"
(16.) "JAILBREAK"
(17.) "BULLET ON MOTT STREET"

Good morning folks… or so... finally again much earlier than the last time you here and now already get the next dose and this here and now means the newest "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article and of course we're here and now talking about the "SEPTEMBER 2018" edition of it. Yes, this time I haven't forgot (or nearly forgot) about it, no, no, no, and so here and now you get this very one much earlier than its direct precursor one, hm, and I hope that already one of the next posts up here coming up the next days or so will then already be the succesor one to this very one here. And now, I think so, enough of the smalltaking and introducing rambling(s) and now direct and straight into the action: This time we will take a trip 'down' to the Big Apple with visiting the cold, hard concrete of New York City where we will today meet one of the if not maybe even surely the biggest legend(s) ever to arise from the NYC and it's all about no one one else and especially no one less than the absolutely almighty and larger than life AGNOSTIC FRONT and today here'n'now we will have a more precise look on their album that definitely sort of always was and I am pretty sure always will be my total favorite album of/by them and their most important one to/for me and this is their in 1999 released absolute masterpiece "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" released back then via "EPITAPH RECORDS" on CD (and please don't ask me if there had also been a LP version of it back then, today there is).

In 1999 I knew AGNOSTIC FRONT already for quite a while especially due to their infamous classick "CAUSE FOR ALARM" and their heavy slasher "ONE VOICE" both from way back in the days, yes, and then they 'went away' and my teenager-self only knew them 'so far' just as a legendary but 'gone' band that I always massively cheered up to. And then 1998 came across and suddenly AGNOSTIC FRONT were truly and really back and their 1998 comeback-album "SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE" with the lifechanging "GOTTA GO" on it erupted like an A-Bomb and... to put it short, yes, I was totally conquered by it and this hasn't changed up to the present day. (So maybe better not be too surprised when you see it someday up here as a part of this series, too.) This strong opening to Oi! and Streetpunk that had happened and that AGNOSTIC FRONT suddenly showcased was exactly what I was up to and for what I was looking for back then (and, to be honest, this hasn't changed in good parts that much today), it was sort of the 'together-melting' of my two most favoured styles which means Oi! and Hardcore and, like already said, it fired up my heart and soul and it was exactly what I was looking for; and even still today it is in the largest parts exactly this what still fuels my fire the very most. But as damn great, brilliant, fantastic, and massively conquering already "SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE" from 1998 was and definitely still is, oh yes, but in 1999 it even got a good bit better with "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART". My first contact with non-mainstream-musick was very eraly in elementary school with Metal and like anyone who knows me and/or also reads this very blog here (especially those who stick around here now for already quite a while) know I am still in love with Metal in its various forms and even especially sort of from 2000 to 2010 or 2011 I was pretty much 'out of it' my personaly classicks always fueled my fire massively and today Metal is very prominent in my stereo again. But... hm, I lost myself a bit, sorry... okay, from latest 1994 on when I was 13 years young first Hardcore and Punkrock and then Oi! (and Streetpunk, but back then this 'seperating-terms' and how or like we use them that often especially today I simply didn't knew) became more and more important and influential to/for me and especially Oi! and Hardcore should become more and more 'my everlasting most important thing' and when then AGNOSTIC FRONT unleashed their "SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE" in 1998 and especially "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" in 1999 that was exactly what I wanted, needed back then (and what I still cheer up to massively today). Not that this hadn't been done by others also before 1998/1999, hell no, others did it as well and they did it very often also damn fantastic, yes, but AGNOSTIC FRONT simply did it to/for me in a very special and damn unique and characteristic as well as charismatic way and they absoultely conquered me and so especially those albums of their comeback era hold a very special place in my heart and this also counts for their by far too often dramatically underrated "DEAD YUPPIES" slasher from 2001, the third and final one of their comeback era and so also don't be surprised when it one day will also be part of this article series up here, yes, before AGNOSTIC FRONT should turn with their mighty "ANOTHER VPOICE" from and in 2004 to the through'n'through 'pure steel' New York Hardcore slashers and giants as we know them today. And so now after all my by/of personal events and situations permeated blathering let us have a closer look on the almighty "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART", hell yeahr, the absoulte groundbreaking masterpiece and classick that AGNOSTIC FRONT released nearly twenty years ago in 1999 via "EPITAPH RECORDS", yes, so let's roll.

AGNOSTIC FRONT's "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" features 17 songs in about 29 minutes and this was and still is one hell of an intense ride from "POLICE STATE" to "BULLET ON MOTT STREET" and it was and is just again and again overwhelming and incredible how much energy and rousing dynamics AGNOSTIC FRONT put into this shortly or roughly half of a hour. Very intense and dense, full throttle and no holds barred and also no prisoners taking songwriting that creates skyscratching high amounts of intensity and highly energetic tension that just wants to erupt massively and 'overwhelmingly' and makes you instantly start a mosh pit right in front of your stereo in your living room and, and that's maybe most important and most impressive, its still as fresh and as strong and as conquering and also as relevant as it was now nearly twenty years ago way back in 1999, yes, and that's definitely and truly statement of one of a kind and definitely of its very own and should already tell you all what you need or have to know about how damn larger than life and fantastic AGNOSTIC FRONT's "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" was and still is and definitely forever will be, point and fact. A raging and sawing guitar work, that delivers stomping rhythms that are varying nicely between fast speed Hardcore facebreakers and more in an elated Oi!/Streetpunk mid pace held or delivered tunes, 'shines' in a dirty and nasty 'streetraised' heavyness without any metallic flirtings and delivers also great hymnal Oi!/Streetpunk leads and melody lines and with doing so enriches and cultivates the songs heavily and massively. A rampaging and nicely present bass work and bonecracking and 'weasel-nimbly' drumming back it all perfectly up. Roger Miret's highly charismatic and unique lead vocals then really give the songs their bright shining crown and massive and highly hymnal massive gang back ups enrich it all only even more. The songs display/showcase anyhow from start to finish a larger than life (still incredible) very fresh hymnal and anthemic character and identity and this all even more due to the fact that the verses are as impressive and overwhelming and hymnal arranged as the majestic refrains. From song one to the final one we get here only purest platinum and this is by all means to/for me nothing else and especially nothing less than a truly and definitely perfect album and with that said I think I've said all what there was to say so far, I hope so, and I simply can't pay enough tribute to AGNOSTIC FRONT in general and especially their "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" groundbreaker in particular and to anyone who maybe really shouldn't know this total supreme masterpiece I can only highly recommend to desperately finally get their hands on a copy of it. First class, nicely diverse and very outspoken and socially and politically aware lyrics, a truly great old schoolish artwork, and a dirty and rough production sound round(ed) it all perfectly up (also even still today). And I really hope that we will see next year a very nice 20th anniversary edition of AGNOSTIC FRONT's "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" is being (re)released. To close this article now let me state that I simply love AGNOSTIC FRONT and especially first-and-foremost "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" and so simply just thanks for all, AGNOSTIC FRONT. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!! Oi! Oi! Oi!

(***Check their facebook site out: https://de-de.facebook.com/agnosticfront***)

AGNOSTIC FRONT - "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART" (1999, "RIOT, RIOT UPSTART")

BROILERS - "FACKELN IM STURM" (Rerelease, 2011)

BROILERS - "FACKELN IM STURM"
(Running time: 45:36 minutes; 12 songs)
("Skull & Palms Recordings"; 2011; CD):

Hey guys, yes, next dose is already incoming and this time here you now get my review on an old record, yes, in its original-version an even already very old record because here we have the full-length-debut of/by no one else than the (al)mighty BROILERS titled "FACKELN IM STURM" and originally it was released way back then in 1997 and so some may/might with all justifications consider it a classick. And, yes, with all justification to do so. Back to the topic,  the BROILERS were one of the young and strong stomping German Oi! bands that started to take over back then in the mid to late 1990's. Since latest 2007, when the "VANITAS RECORDINGS" was released, the BROILERS really 'took off' and today they are a damn 'big number' in the german music scenery with save (and high) chart-entries every time a new release hit the stores. And, not that you get the wrong impression, this for all the right and justified reasons and personally for me today it is a big, a huge pleasure to see them standing where they are today and I only wish them all the best on their further way. Even more because they never forgot or denied where they came from and they always stayed true to and never were ashamed of their Oi! and Skinhead roots and that makes them only more authentic and also and maybe even especially sympathic in my eyes and that's someting sort of very 'rare' and 'precious' especially in our current time and age. And so seven years ago in 2011 they were already very strong going and only getting bigger and bigger and then they rereleased their older albums in totally drop-dead-gorgeous rereleases and so also their debut, standing proud and true to and for their roots. Personally back then when I was a teenager or a (very) 'young adult' I really discovered the BROILERS properly with their second full-length-album "VERLIERER SEHEN ANDERS AUS" from and in the year 2000 and their former works I back then first only knew songwise from compilations and parties and such stuff, yes, and that's also the reason why this very album and review on it isn't part of the ('personal') "CLASSICK(S) OF THE MONTH" series up here because my first real personal classick of, with, and by the BROILERS was and is "VERLIERER SEHEN ANDERS AUS". But back in 2011 I finally realized that I should definitely get "VERLIERER SEHEN ANDERS AUS" in a proper version, especially after the tape on which I got it back then started rapidly to 'melt' away, so to say, and so I already in 2011 wanted to call this one finally and properly my very own... but don't ask me why it took me long seven years to finally get it done, damn it... however, because some time ago this year of and in 2018 I finally managed to get it, yes, done and since some months I call this drop-dead-gorgeous rereleased timeless classick of German Oi! my very own and so I thought why not even still today deliver you my review on it, yes, and so now finally after all this 'historical ramblings' let's go, yes, so, truly, here we finally go: Back in 1997 the BROILERS still were sort of 'nearly teenagers', so to say, and they delivered an asskicking harsh sawing and thirsty-for-life forward rumbling German Oi! that still today suprisingly strong and tall stands its very own ground, yes, and that alone is a statement. I mean, definitely, this is through-and-through pure 1990's Oi!, yes, with surely already a strong own identity, also definitely, but still true 1990's German Oi! and still it is as strong and releavant as back then and this still today even despite the fact that German Oi! developed hugely and massively since the 1990's and, yes, so that  the BROILERS' "FACKELN IM STURM" is still as strong and as relevant as back then in 1997 is truly a statement of its very own. The songwriting was already back then nicely diverse and multi-facetted and what they served us back then they also knew how to get it all properly done and without 'taking themselves over with something' and the impressive development and evolution of the sound'n'style of the BROILERS like we know them today was or better is retrospectively already in its very floorplans or groundplans to be recognized here on and with "FACKELN IM STURM" that's still even today a very strong and in parts even just 'overwhelmingly' conquering album and I really could kick myself in the ass that I haven't cheered up to it properly already back then in the glory days of 1997. Anyhow… again: return to the topic; so the foundation of the BROILERS' "FACKELN IM STURM" is by harsh (German) Punk(rock) fueled gruff and rough and 'boorish' German Oi! that's massively driven forward by harsh sawing and powerful stomping bonedry and 'road-grimed' guitars that deliver a headsmashing full force riff-and-rhythm-work and also set strong and 'formative' melodic and lead accents from start to finish of the whole album, yes, and they also deliver power and force non stopp; then there's the warm and earthy but also or as well as heavy and dirty huming and buzzing bass that's struts around like '(s)he' owns the place and that's also very often nicely marking the songs in its own way and with its own flavour; then the smashing drumming pushes the songs with massive and meaty poundings onwards and lending it all the needed massively beefy and bulky stomp; then there are the gruff and harsh and in a throaty shouted way sung lead vocals with a very nice own vibe to them and, just by the way, no matter how much I also still today love Sammy's 'old style'n'voice of singing' it is really impressive how much and how far he developed since then to what he does and is able to do today, hell yeahr, nothing but much respect; and finally we have the loud crew backing chants only adding up to the massively hymnal and anthemic character of all the songs. And, yes, already back then in 1997 on "FACKELN IM STURM" the BROILERS knew very damn well how to write really massivley hymnal and anthemic songs with really large 'hooky' sing-a-long refrains and also damn rousing verses that are mostly in no way inferior arranged than the mighty refrains and that was and still is an ability that the BROILERS (sort of) 'learned from the ground up' and haven't unlearned to the present day and I am pretty damn sure they will never unlearn it. And all this is enriched and cultivated by already back then in 1997 pretty strong and nicely huge SKA and Offbeat influences and elements, licks and rhythm-arrangements as well as also some slightly 'Coutnryesque' guitar tones and some few nicely doses of healthy Rock & Roll like onwards pushing marks. With all that added together even still in 2018 "FACKELN IM STURM" is an exciting and grapping, intense ride and truly a timeless classick of the German Oi! of the 1990's and in the basic floorplans today in the retrospective a lot of what should become of the BROILERS culminating so far in 2018 is or was also already in slight portions dawning at the horizon of and in 1997 while they and we, the "FACKELN IM STURM" still defying the storm still burning brightly, proud and strong. Already back then often pretty outspoken and anyhow thematically nicely diverse and sympathically 'ironical winking' and anyhow good lyrics with a strong and clear youthful attitude, a fantastic artwork, and a heavy bombing and still dirty stomping production sound then round it all finally up. Surely, yes, some songs like for example "KELLY FAMMELLY" or "SUFF DICH VOLL" are today in one way or another (at least a bit) outdated but, hey, what did you expect. My personal favorites were and (mostly still) are "BLAUE AUSTER", "IN 80 TAGEN UM DIE WELT", "DU BIST SO BLIND", "FACKELN IM STURM", "DÜSSELDORF", and "WENN DU DENKST" and the sort of 'bonus-medley' "DAS GÜLDENE POTPOURRI" is just a fantastic 'musical bouncer' of the (rerelease-)album. So, yes, also with nowadays being already twenty-one-years-old I can only and nothing but recommend the BROILERS' "FACKELN IM STURM" to anyone into Oi! and also to anyone who wants to know how great German Oi! was already back in the 1990's, oh yeahr, and so you should finally (and desperately, trust me) try to get your hands on a copy of it, yes, and the rerelease-version of it would be a perfcet match for or in the case of this very undertaking, yes, trust me. So, okay, you best promptly just damn fucking finally get it. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://www.broilers.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

BROILERS - "FACKELN IM STURM" ///live, ca. 2010 @ the "WITH FULL FORCE FESTIVAL"\\\ (1997/2011, "FACKELN IM STURM")

OXO 86 - "RIEN NE VA PLUS" (2018)

OXO 86 - "RIEN NE VA PLUS"
(Running time: 40:30 minutes; 12 songs)
("Sunny Bastards Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes - I'm back again, once again. Time to set the new month which is October 2018 in motion, oh yeah', and so now let's roll on again: Here and now I have something really… fuck it... I love OXO 86 and here's my review on "RIEN NE VA PLUS" their (brand)new and still pretty-to-very recently this very year of 2018 via "SUNNY BASTARDS" released full-length-record, and this is a damn strong one finally one more time again. OXO 86, a damn sympathic and authentic, real and honest band, melting SKA and Oi! and Punkrock in one hell of a rousing way together and their sound simply graps you and then… what can I say... you simply start to skank around immediately without a second thought and this from start to finish, yes, and they are one of the very best live bands I've ever seen and thinking about their gig at the this year's "THIS IS SKA 2018" I promptly feel the rush of that gig already again. Damn it, it was so damn great. Okay, and what does this all tell us now 'bout "RIEN NE VA PLUS", the latest offering of/by OXO 86?!? If this all not already told you so then let me tell you that OXO 86 serve us here on/with "RIEN NE VA PLUS" their newest offering of their highly energetic and nicely uncouth naughty and nasty and always thirtsy and cheerful SKA-Oi!-Punk and this really damn strong and, truly, incredible massively rousing. A very nicely dirty intoned guitar-work pushs the songs forward with a formidable powerful rhythm work and also spices up the songs with some fine melody lines and highly danceable SKA licks from start to finish on which the pretty to damn fantastic trumpet in collaboration with the smart organ further on put the icing on the cake, so to say, and they also incorporate more or less pretty often some good healthy doses of Reggae into it all as well and all is backed up by the snotty and frivolous play-to-the-dance rhythm section consisting out of the powerful strutting bass and the loud popping drums, while very loud and hymnal background-choirs only add to it all and above all shine the incredible charismatic lead vocals giving it all only even more of an unique and own tone, yes, a pretty damn stand-alone band that's what OXO 86 definitely are. All is delivered via/by strong songwriting with highest levels and amounts of grapping energy and rousing dyanmics in it, turning "RIEN NE VA PLUS" from the first tones to the finishing ones into one hell of an exciting and entertaining and all the time very hymnal and damn anthemic ride that should please all true or real fans of punky SKA and dirty (German) Oi! and snotty (German) Punk all at the same time and pretty much to the same amounts, yes, and this all without currying any favor but instead of this rather prefering being thru'n'thru real, authentic, honest, and heartfelt sympathic all the time. My personal favorites are for sure "RIEN NE VA PLUS", "FESTIVAL", "SPÄTVERKAUF", "ZEIT DIE NIE VERGEHT", "EIN GUTER TROPFEN", "KAISERFAHRT", and "WIE VAMPIRE", all pure gold, so maybe check this total highlights out first. Nicely diverse lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a perfect rough production-sound then finally round OXO 86's "RIEN NE VA PLUS" very strong up and make it all round. Only to "AUF GEHT'S" and "SCHADE" I somehow don't find a way to, why the bloody hell ever. Anyhow, because to anyone into SKA, Oi!, and Punk I can only and highly recommend OXO 86's "RIEN NE VA PLUS", yes, so make sure to get your hands on a copy of it finally as soon as anyhow anyway possible. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://oxo86.blogsport.de/ (-the link to the band's own blogsite)

OXO 86 - "RIEN NE VA PLUS" (2018, "RIEN NE VA PLUS")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018: LUNGBRUSH - "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018:

LUNGBRUSH- "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" (1999)
(Running time: 38:55 minutes, 14 songs)
("Pavement Music Inc."; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "URBAN TRIBES"
(02.) "LOST"
(03.) "SOMETIMES"
(04.) "EXIT"
(05.) "BOUND"
(06.) "FOR A MINUTE"
(07.) "HEROIN SUICIDE"
(08.) "HINDSIGHT"
(09.) "CORPORATE BULLSH#T"
(10.) "CLOZARIL"
(11.) "JANIE"
(12.) "SYNTHETIC"
(13.) "I QUIT"
(14.) "SOILED"

Oh boy, it seems like freaky fuckin' ages and like I've totally forgot about this very article here which is in fact the next and newest "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article in its AUGUST 2018 edition, yes, and you know what, it's true, I sort of forgot about it so that it now nearly a full month too late comes up... and so here and now without any further ramblings, yes, let's go… Here we have a for all what I know today very much unknown and truly heavily forgotten album and that's the "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" slasher of/by LUNGBRUSH that used to hail from Chicago, Illinois/U.S.A. and it was released in 1999 via "PAVEMENT MUSIC INC." (on CD) and for all what I know it was and still is the only proper release of/by them and it is an album that heavily breathes the spirit of the late 1990's but this like fresh air still today. This is metallic Hardcore or early Metalcore with a huge curious and searchingly mind(set) and a special tone or vibe to it all like you only got it back then in the late 1990's on but this all so strong and grapping, exciting and energizing so that it is even also today nothing but incredible fresh, strong, and alive/lively so that it still today stands its ground and this tall, brave, strong, and proud. Unfortunately I haven't found that much more informations on/to LUNGBRUSH beside the fact that they toured together with the likes of FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, and MACHINE HEAD back in the days, yes, and so now onwards to the next chapter of this article and this is a closer look on LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL".

Especially FEAR FACTORY and MACHINE HEAD are good cornerstones to describe LUNGBRUSH and what they are doing here on "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL". Imagine a devastating and highly dynamic full throttle and full force mixture out of mid to late 1990's metallic Hardcore like for example STRIFE, TURMOIL, DISRESPECT, and SURFACE, throw some good portioned healthy doses of SICK OF IT ALL for some more raging Old School Hardcore vibes into the mix, and combine this all with 1990's Neo Thrash Metal like especially MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA/SOULFLY, KILLINGCULTURE, and also some FEAR FACTORY and then add a damn strong and big own identity to it all and you pretty much have the greatness that LUNGBRUSH had delivered in 1999 with their "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" masterpiece and I really have no clue why the band didn't become bigger back then. Anyhow, we have this great asskicker here marked by fantastic songwriting with a tricky and imaginative approach to it all, with strong exciting moments and full of grapping and rousing elements and truckloads of energy and dynamics, and with a lot of especially great and nicely diverse and multi-facetted rhythm arrangements. All is delivered by pissed off raging and throaty delivered very hard shouted vokillz, crushing and devastating guitars, and a pure thunder rhythm section. Add it to all 1990's MACHINE HEAD like screaming guitars and 1990's SEPULTURA/SOULFLY like percussive tribalistic drumming and some sort of "proggy" compositorial 'playthings' like especially KILLINGCULTURE also did them back then, yes, and you should know the deal. Strong and outspoken lyrics, a very sinister artwork, and a smashing production-sound round it all finally up. To anyone into metallic Hardcore and (early) Metalcore I can only and nothing but highly recommend LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" so do yourself the damn huge favour and make sure to finally (and desperately) get your hands on a copy of it. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

Check them out on ''Bandmine'': http://www.bandmine.com/lungbrush

LUNGBRUSH - "SOMETIMES" (1999, "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL")

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" (2016)

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX"
(Running time: 17:46 minutes; 6 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2016; CD):

Hey guys, late evening post today respectively tonight for you and this time on an album that's now already a little bit older and this very one here and now is the "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" Mini-CD of/by the legendary KOMINTERN SECT that was released two years ago in 2016 via the fantastic "CONTRA RECORDS" label. Don't ask me why but two years ago this album flew completly under my radar and I just bought it this very year in June 2018 at the "THIS IS SKA 2018" festival and that's the reason why you just now read and haven't read earlier about it up here. KOMINTERN SECT like also a lot of other French Oi! bands I discovered pretty late, so to say, earliest from the late 1990's or early 2000's on, can't remember it now correctly, but especially KOMINTERN SECT I hold very close and dear to my heart and so I really want(ed) to bring this very one still up here for you, yes, and so now let's go: KOMINTERN SECT play a very destinctive style of very brickwall styled heavy and hard and yet all the time incredible melodic and catchy/anthemic Oi! driven especially forward by a fantastic mixture of stoic and heavy and yet still nicely 'fluffy'n'diverse' onwards stomping rhythm work and bright shining and loud singing very melodic leads and above all flying 'hooky'n'hymnal' mighty melodic sing-a-longs delivered by a loud'n'proud crew choir. And as well as the songs are all damn powerful and battle-scarred they also carry due to the above described heavy melodic focussed approach also all the time a somewhat somehow slightly melancholic and pensive very intense atmosphere that not only gives you goosepimples en masse but that also gives KOMINTERN SECT a damn strong very own unique identity and character. Expect a fresh and rousing songwriting full of power that graps you immediatly and simply won't let loose again, and all is delivered via strong stomping guitars, great nasty delivered lead vocals and damn strong crew chants, a proud strutting bass, and crashing drumming and also their larger than life classick "POUR LA GLOIRE" you find on this one. Please, just give me finally more new stuff. Good lyrics (as far as I could translate them), a gorgeous artwork, and a stunning production sound then round it all finally up. So, yes, don't make the mistake and think this (very) short review would be because this would be a only anyhow weak album, hell no, it's just simply a Mini-Album and so I think I've said it all what I had to say and if you maybe still don't know or have it then you should finally change this as soon as possible and best get it promptly. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/Kominternsect2014 (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

KOMINTERN SECT - "LA BELLE VIE" (2016, "D'UNE MÊME VOIX")

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" (2016, "D'UNE MÊME VOIX")

AGGRESSIVE - "STICK TOGETHER" (2018)

AGGRESSIVE - "STICK TOGETHER"
(Running time: 43:44 minutes; 13 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey my dear readers, yes, I'm once again back again and this time it will be another early morning post and this one more time again simply due to the fact that I don't know how much time I will maybe be able to spend on doing some stuff up here later this day and after over the last week this always failed I decided to bring this very one here up just right now this early morning. So, here we have the new AGGRESSIVE slasher "STICK TOGETHER" released (if I am now not completly wrong) this very summer of 2018 via the fantastic "CONTRA RECORDS" label on CD and on LP and for all what I know it's now the second full length album of/by this (very) strong going band from Germany. This is first class top notch roughnecked and battle-scarred Oi! with a huge amount of Old School (and especially on NYHC raised) Hardcore marks in it and roaring full throttle and full force ahead with plenty of Hardcore Punk impressions in it, too. Somewhere between DISCIPLINE, WARZONE, THE 4 SKINS, and some THE CASUALTIES you will find AGGRESSIVE and this on a fresh and strong pretty own independent(ly) position with a strong own character that shines especially through in the pretty unique warm and ingratiating yet harsh sawing and dustdry bonecracking shredding guitar tone and the sharp cutting and nasty roaring heavy shouted lead vokillz with that nicely done own form of accentuated delivery. And beside the above mentioned bands respectively fans of them I think that also everyone who back then cheered up to the mighty DOWN THE DRAIN and/or loved the unforgotten and almighty WARFARE 223/WARFARE will definitely also love AGGRESSIVE and their "STICK TOGETHER" slasher, yes, even especially WARFARE 223/WARFARE still rise above but not that this would matter that much at the end of tha day. Expect no holds barred and no prisoners taking high energetic and full throttle songwriting with still a plenty of strong and fresh twists'n'turns all along the road that excites and graps and massively rouses you and all is filled with harsh and sharp roaring guitars that deliver beside some fantastic rhythm work also absolutely singing and shining leads and melody lines, very charismatic and angry and nasty forceful shouted lead vokillz, loud gang shouts, a bunch of cool guest singers, a heavy pounding and loud'n'proud bass, and heavy hitting and hard smashing thundering drumming, yes, and all is done very dynamic, too. Fantastic lyrics, diverse and often socially aware and outspoken, a drop dead gorgeous artwork, and pure power production-sound then round it all finally up. I think I have enough said, because if I now would ramble on I would more or less only repeat myself in one way or another and so I will now close this review with stating that "DEEP INSIDE", "STICK TOGETHER", "BLACK, RED, GOLD", "DEINE LIEBE", "FOR THE WILD ONES", "PARASITE", and "HIPSTER" are my absolute favorites on this one and so maybe check this ones out first, and, yes, a damn fantastic and really impressive and so in this way at least by/of me pretty unexpected top notch album that you simply need to have, period. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.contra-net.com/de/aggressive-stick-together-12-lp-lim-212-blk-pre-order.html (- best get it right here)

AGGRESSIVE - "DEEP INSIDE" (2018, "STICK TOGETHER")

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "ICH ODER DU" (2014)

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "ICH ODER DU"
(Running time: 39:54 minutes; 12 songs)
("K.B. Records"; 2014; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally back again with the next dose and so now here comes my newest record-review for you and after somehow the last two months turned out to be absolutely dominated by Metal, Hard Rock and Rock I decided that it is really finally by far about time that finally the direction is being changed again and I really feel like especially Oi! and Streetpunk but also Hardcore and Punkrock in general finally need again to take the order up here (and I have quite a bit of new Oi!, Streetpunk, etc. pp. albums here that are only waiting to be finally reviewed up here by me for you) and I decided that I will start this sort of the "changing of the direction" up here with a record-review on a damn fantastic Oi! album from good old Germany even it is now already a bit older but so far I haven't managed to get a review on it up here and I anyhow really want to and this best before the band releases their brandnew one (I think) later this very year, yes, and this very band are the mighty DURSTIGE NACHBARN and this very album is their fantastic "ICH ODER DU" released already four years ago from now back then in 2014 via the top notch "K.B. RECORDS" label and I have it since back then and I celebrate and praise it since then and so now finally and by far too long overdue here is now my review on it for you, okay, and so enough of the introducing smalltalk, yes, let's go: So, yes, I heard you're looking for Oi!, yes, for first class and especially absolutely real Oi! straight from Germany, yes? Well, perfect, don't look any further, hell yeahr, because here you've found what you were looking for. This is honest and authentic, no bullshit accepting and no prisoners taking, heavy and hard onwards stomping Skinhead Oi! Oi! Oi! musick raging directly from the cold concrete in the glorious tradition of harsh brickwall styled German Oi! and for example old KRAWALLBRÜDER come to mind even DURSTIGE NACHBARN play it tighter and heavier, more versatile and at the same time more to the point and also with a stronger harsh forward storming old school Punkrock/Hardcore Punk background than the almighty KRAWALLBRÜDER back then. So expect massive amounts of very, very fresh and massively rousing and highly dynamic energy wrapped into damn strong and convincing, conquering songwriting that flows in a masterly way without any breaks or blank spaces and with a big bunch of strong ideas, nice surprises, exciting twists'n'turns all the ride down the road, and a grapping and tension fueled intense approach from start to finish that just makes your fists go automatically up while your throat and mouth sing without a second thought the top notch loud'n'proud very 'hooky' sing a longs with full power and this also from start to finish, yes, DURSTIGE NACHBARN's "ICH ODER DU" is a supreme explosive, destructive warhead that ignites right in your ears and sets your whole mind and body a-light. All is filled with very gruff and heavy guitars that deliver a fantastic, high energetic and nicely diverse and above all damn intense  rhythm work that simply conquers supremely and in every way and also every moment and then also the guitar work really shines with very concise melody lines and leads, too, yes, that's how I like it. The two lead singers, one gruff and one more higher pitched (so to say) and both damn powerful, then stunningly whip ahead the songs massively and mark them all heavily. The very present and heavy huming loud'n'proud bass is strutting around like he owns the place and together with the damn heavy and stunning drumming backs it then all first class up. And as this all together wouldn't be already great enough, yes, but also expect anthemic hymns from start to finish and this all the time. My personal favorites (still) are "ICH ODER DU", "IM HAUSFLUR BRENNT NOCH LICHT", "EURE KINDER", "KURZ UND SCHMERZLOS", "SCHEISS AUF EURE WELT", "NIEMALS BEREUT", and the almighty "SKINHEADS", yes, so maybe check this pure platinum tracks out first. Very strong and good and also nicely diverse and also very often damn outspoken and critical/socially-aware lyrics, a great artwork, and a harsh sawing production sound then round it all finally up. This is pure, solid gold and still today I can nothing but highly, highly recommend DURSTIGE NACHBARN's "ICH ODER DU" to anyone into real (German) Oi! and I am incredible curious for their new album and until then "ICH ODER DU" will simply remain on heavy rotation. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!
(9 of 10 points)
http://durstige-nachbarn.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "SKINHEADS" (2014, "ICH ODER DU")

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER" (2018)

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER"
(Running time: 58:24 minutes; 14 songs)
("Sony Music"; 2018; CD):

Hell yeahr, hey guys, yes, already back again and this time again with a record review that's for far too long overdue up here nowadays and it is finally on the new JUDAS PRIEST masterpiece "FIREPOWER" released via "SONY MUSIC" this year's March of 2018 on CD and limited CD and also, at least I would bet so, also on LP and currently it is also out again in a brandnew special tour edition, yes, just that you know it, but (so far) I own only the normal CD version, since the day it was released, and so, of course, my review will just be on this very one. So, yes, 2018 and JUDAS PRIEST unleashing their supreme "FIREPOWER" and with doing so they pretty much annihilated all maybe-potential as well as all openly wanna-be rivals in the world for 2018 within the blink of an eye and so 2018 saw with JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" the return of the pretty much best and greatest of them all ever. With 14 songs in nearly a hour of play-time with "FIREPOWER" JUDAS PRIEST constructed and build-up a sky-towering monument from scratch that truly is absolutely on par with larger than life divine masterpieces and lifechanging groundbreakers like for example immortal ones like "KILLING MACHINE", "BRITISH STEEL", "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE", "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH", "TURBO", and "PAINKILLER" and this, oh hell yeahr, this is an absolute statement of its very own and it is nothing less and nothing but totally conquering and this again and again time after time without end. And, in fact, JUDAS PRIEST created with "FIREPOWER" a soon-to-be-a-classic if not an instant-classic album that while combining in a totally relevant up-to-date way the best ingredients and elements of the above mentioned immortally divine JUDAS PRIEST classicks to create a true larger than life masterpiece of totally own of a kind like one in a million also manages to be so incredible fresh, independently, stand-alone, and alive-lively that it is nothing else and especially nothing less than absolutely breath-taking and the biggest and purest pleasure to listen to this phenomenal Heavy Metal thunderstruck and it showcases and this seemingly so easy how truly great Heavy Metal was, is, and always will be and this in all its lifechanging glory. Combine the clenched fist stoic marching Hard Rock fueled harsh stomping early Heavy Metal of "KILLING MACHINE" and the sharp cutting "BRITISH STEEL" with the pure by high octane energy fueled melodic and still mercylessly heavy forward storming and by huge and highly multi-facetted tension-arcs marked masterly supreme Heavy Metal of "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE" and "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH" with the anthemic and hymnal catchyness of the hard rocking and even harder rolling "TURBO" and the all and every resistance devastating and annihilating absolutely no prisoners taking and still incredible diverse and multi-layered sheer thundering heavyness of "PAINKILLER" and imagine this all done incredible fresh and independently and filled to the maximum with new, fresh, and spirited ideas and you probably should have a pretty good idea of "FIREPOWER" to start with - just in case you really shouldn't know (or own) it, why the bloody hell ever. The very multi-layered and diverse songwriting full of overwhelming many and great facets is phenomenal, the fantastic songs are packed up full to the absolute maximum with unbelievable massive amounts of total high octane energy and really headspinning and massively rousing and moving dynamics, the songs (each single one as well as the whole album which means the 'songs in their completness') 'brightly' shine and really massively and strongly excel with overwhelming amounts of ever-changing different moods and strong emotions while being marked by fantastic arrangements and brilliant arranged verses that very 'flowingly' run into truly larger than life 'fist in the air' refrains while all being 'stunningly' studded with gifted hooklines to kneel down to, exciting moments and grapping elements are everywhere to be found here on JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", the rhythm structures and the pace work are very diverse and pretty much ever-changing over the whole album and every song owns its very own approach and identity, and in general is the ingenious fresh, alive-lively, rousing and very multi-facetted compositorial work of the songs nothing but totally and absolutely 'gifted-divine'. The guitars are literally the album-title taken from words and set (in)to musick which means absolutely all-guns-blazing sheer and pure "FIREPOWER" and really excel with their overwhelming and all and everything and everyone conquering power with fantastic riffs as well as abrilliant rhythm work and when we look at the divine solos and the brilliant leads and melody lines that's where they really, really shine and this like the brightest star you'll probably will ever see. Rob Halfords lead vokillz truly massively enrich and cultivate it all and this just from start to finish on a totally supreme and masterly level of skill, quality, and personality and also live he sings so strong and brilliant today that you could think he would be at least three decades younger than he really is. Much, much respect for this!!! The forceful and proud strutting bass and the crushing thunderous drumming then beef and bulk up the songs massively and perfectly, giving them their needed and very valuable backbone. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" is a nearly if not a truly through and through perfect piece of art and musick and every single song is the purest and most precious platinum you only can find and so every song is truly an incredible precious gem but if you ask for my personal favorites then this would be "FIREPOWER", "LIGHTNING STRIKES", "EVIL NEVER DIES", "NEVER THE HEROES", "CHILDREN OF THE SUN", "RISING FROM RUINS", "SPECTRE", "NO SURRENDER", and "SEA OF RED", hell yeahr, and so maybe start your discovery of JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" with this über-divine gems. Very strong, interesting, and throughtful lyrics, an amazing and just 'overwhelmingly-conquering' artwork, and a frist-class powerful and transparent and still warm production-sound then finally round it all perfectly up. Be sure or be prepared to find JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" on a very prominent position in my personal-best-of-2018-list and I'm pretty sure this will not only in my case that/this way. I think I've said so much all I had to say and I think you now know the deal and what you should do or have to do in case you really still don't own or even know it and now bang your head and rock hard and rock free. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", an immortally divine and larger than life masterpiece forged in iron by fire, flame, and will and a proud, powerful, spirited, gifted, and bright shining monument for the future delivered and gifted to us by the Metal Gods themselves. Perfect!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.judaspriest.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

JUDAS PRIEST - "NEVER THE HEROES" (2018, "FIREPOWER")

FREI.WILD - "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" (2018)

FREI.WILD - "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN"
(2CD: Running time - CD 1: 52:19 minutes; 13 songs /// Running time - CD 2: 55:33 minutes; 14 songs)
("Rookies & Kings"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, back again, once again, yes, next load'n'dose already again coming for you. Here and now it will be all about my review on the new FREI.WILD album "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN", finally, and this was and is a double CD album that was released in the March of this very year of 2018 and latest since May 2018 I wanted to bring this up… please, don't ask me why it took so long, I have no clue. Anyhow, I wasn't aware that FREI.WILD were still active or were active again before I saw "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" in my local record store and at first I wasn't too enthusiastic… it left me totally and completly cold, to be honest... after the last FREI.WILD album I really cheered up to was "GEGENGIFT" from 2011 but after some time one day I decided in sort of an ad-hoc-decision to just take it with me and so I did and then… yes... I was heavily surprised and truly convinced by it and so, I mean this being-convinced-of-it, it is still so the state today. And, before you ask, no, just no, I mean I could imagine that FREI.WILD still today trigger a lot of guys outta there who see in them some of the most Evil Nazis and one of the most evil Nazi Rock or Fascist Rock bands outta there ever and all sort of this stuff. Fuck it, in my review on "GEGENGIFT" I pretty much wrote all what I had and in one way or another still sort of have to say about this stuff so just read it there if you really want to my opinion on or to this all and one last or two or three last words to it then just listen without any panic sirens in your head with attention to a lot of very outspoken lyrics of songs here on "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and you should finally get it straight that patriotism and conservatism doesn't equal being a Nazi or Fascist and in fact maybe, just maybe if you can get this straight, even means the total opposite. And now, finally, enough of this stuff and back to the topic, yes, and that still is FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN". Hm, how to finally not only trying but succeeding in keeping it short(er) this time... I doubt that this will work out... anyway, hm, where and how the hell to start? Maybe here'n'there: If you are looking or searching for a really damn strong through and through really hymnal and anthemic and truly hard rocking and slightly metallic rolling Rock album, a German Rock album owning a huge very own identity and with still a pretty present street spirit or Streetrock flair and that incorporates a lot of Offbeat and/or SKA elements into it all in a damn strong way and with, so it seems, a lot of big heartfelt personal authentic emotions in it all as well and/or on top of it all, musicwise and lyricwise, yes, then don't look any further and don't search anywhere else, yes, because here with and in FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" you've definitely found what you were looking, searching for. Strong songwriting that really offers beneath its all too open lying surface a lot of suprising multi-layered facets and strong surprising diverse ideas and often great twists'n'turns with exciting song and verse arrangements and grapping compositorial kick-offs and that all really hit me by surprise and it all nicely breaks out of the all too well known stale formula of the last albums. While on the surface all sounds very well known underneath the surface waits a lot of fresh and cool stuff to be discovered by you. And all is done very independently, yes, FREI.WILD still have their very own tone and unique identity and they conserved and even cultivated it all here on and with "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and I definitely cheer up to it or them for this. Very charismatic and accentuated vocals, loud backings, sharp cutting heavy guitars, a proud strutting bass, and harsh and hard stunning drumming are the cornerstones of FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and in-between this all on the one side very often one hell of an intense and also pretty atmospheric entertaining and valuable, nutritious intermezzo breaks loose as well as on the other side there's also even way more waiting to be discovered by you. Okay, maybe a double CD album is or was at the end of the day still a bit too much and when we have 27 songs in nearly two hours of play-time then in all 'normal cases' it's maybe or surely pretty clear and 'normal' that we have also some fillers and not only killers on it here but anyhow and anyway, yes, FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" is a damn strong album that I can still very calmly and clearly recommend to you outta there and so maybe just forget all the hype as well as all the bullcrap talking maybe still surrounding this band and so also this album and just risk one or two ears on it or better get it instantly in case you really still should not have or even know it. Strong and surprisingly multi-layered lyrics, a pretty cool artwork, and a nice bombing production-sound then finally make it all very round. Like already more or less said, yes, best just get it.

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.frei-wild.net/ (-link to the homepage of the band)

FREI.WILD - "ANTIWILLKOMMEN" (2018, "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN")

(my absolute personal favorite one)

GHOST - "PREQUELLE" (2018)

GHOST - "PREQUELLE"
(Running time: 41:47 minutes; 10 songs)
("Loma Vista Recordings"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, here's my next dose'n'load aimed at and coming for you and this time it will be my record-review on the new GHOST full-length-album "PREQUELLE" released very recently this very year of 2018 via "LOMA VISTA RECORDINGS" on CD in a normal and in a digi-pak-version of which the latter one I call mine (but don't ask me 'bout any differences beside the packaging) and I would bet that there's also officially released vinyl of it floating around outta there and this pretty much also in various forms which here and now means various colours. This is my very first GHOST record and also more or less my first reallly proper 'meeting' with them after before "PREQUELLE" I always thought it would just be another overly hyped act but after a good friend of mine (also very trustworthy in all things musick) told me that they would beside all the hype in fact be very good band and also their newest record despise all the controversy surrounding it would be very strong I decided to finally give GHOST a try as well and also decided to start directly with their newest offering "PREQUELLE" and so now here we are. After this introduction please don't wait for any comparisions with their earlier work and just expect me to do my review solely on this very one here, GHOST's "PREQUELLE". What GHOST deliver us here on and with and via "PREQUELLE" is a damn fascinating and very independently done metallic mixture out of Rock and Gothic and this in a very 'freshly delviered' way with some very cool and very catchy Pop appeal to it all, yes, and this very open (how I liked and still like to call it) Pop appeal I mean in every sense and way positive even it is (for all what I understand) one of the if not the biggest point of criticism the majority of critics is or gets vocal about, hm, how I see it even without knowing GHOST so much before "PREQUELLE" they were anyhow never that much the band of and for all the 'metallic trueness warriors' outta there or at least I never perceived them that way and so I don't really understand the discussions I got and am aware of surrounding GHOST's "PREQUELLE" but who am I too judge, so to say… For all what I can say is that if you are looking out for a damn strong and very Fresh nicely metallic Gothic Rock cocktail full of a very own identity and strong and grapping ideas that combines easily and very charming flowingly Gothic ingredients and Gothic Rock marks with loads of melodic Hard/Heavy Rock impressions and a good amount of stunning Classic/Vinatge Rock ideas and wraps it all together with head-banging studded Heavy Metal leather as well as some good healthy doses of anthemic 1980's Stadium Rock impressions while all is marked by a gigantic 'catchy poppyness' (again, in all sense positive meant) and all interwoven by a tight and nicely intense atmosphere then you will find in and with GHOST's "PREQUELLE" pretty much exactly what you are looking and searching for. GHOST's "PREQUELLE" is heavily marked by a very atmospheric and intense aligned songwriting that's filled with grapping hooks and a very dynamic and rousing, exciting and very energetic approach to it all with a big bunch of strong arrangements and a great flowing nicely diverse rhythm structure work of the songs in general and stunning compositorial ideas so that it pretty much all shines with a strong 'freshness' and it's pretty much all showcasing a pretty own character as well as damn convincing quality. The very urgently and imprloringly delivered, very intense and top notch clear and clean vokillz really shine above all with their massive power, their many facets, and their very own tone and character. Then the very strong and highly diverse and the songs definitely massively enriching and marking fantastic and highly melodic while yet being all the time also pretty powerful guitars then dominate massively, while being backed up in an ultra-precise and also damn diverse way by the powerful rhythm section and 'some other instruments' (so to say, and to make it short and easy for me here) also perform their duties in a damn strong to great way. And in our day and age delivering two instrumentals on one album as a 'chart breaking band' like GHOST do/did here on "PREQUELLE" with "MIASMA" and "HELVETESFÖNSTER" is also a damn strong statement. Not all is gold, okay, for example I miss a bit of dirt and danger and GHOST's "PREQUELLE" is for my taste a bit too secure and there are a bit of too many too pathos-pregnant-balladesk songs on it but after all I guess that's which means the latter is just part of the deal known as Gothic and Gothic Rock and so at the end of the day I guess it's all good and fine especially after I am not that 100% into that target group, so to say. My personal favorites are "RATS", "FAITH", "SET THE LIGHT", the absolutely fantastic "MIASMA", the stunning "DANCE MACABRE", and "LIFE ETERNAL", yes, so maybe check this ones out first. Pretty interesting and cool lyrics, an absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a heavy smashing production sound then finally round GHOST's "PREQUELLE" very befittingly up. Well done, very well done.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://ghost-official.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

GHOST live @ the "DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL" in 2018, playing "GHOST CIRCLE" and the masterly "MIASMA".